Instructor-Led Training

The payback for instituting a well-planned instructor-led
Linux training program is both progressive and far-reaching. The
following are areas where an organization can expect to find
substantial benefits as a direct result of successful Linux
training.

Acquiring Linux Fluency

The GNU/Linux culture is inherited from the various flavors
of UNIX. The evolution of Linux that occurred during the 1990s
mirrors that of UNIX during the 1970s and 80s. Due to the nature of
the GNU General Public License, the open-software culture and
peer-review process have created an evolution that provides
universal accessibility to computer professionals and power users
alike.

The legacy culture of Linux makes an understanding of the
roots of UNIX and the nature of free software critical. Gaining
Linux fluency allows new users and administrators to strengthen
their abilities to communicate with seasoned veterans of the Linux
environment. Learning about basic Linux resources, the structure of
a typical distribution, the wealth of contributed documentation
available and the philosophies of the system's design all work to
jump-start Linux fluency.

Easing the Way for Linux Administrators

In larger organizations, senior administrators often provide
on-the-job training for their staff. But the senior administrators'
most critical role lies in planning for growth and evolution of the
network of systems for which they're responsible.

When Linux instruction is provided in a classroom setting,
students can dedicate time to intensive, hands-on training that
achieves a well-rounded knowledge base faster and more effectively.
Additional one-on-one training and mentoring—aimed specifically at
the needs of the organization's workplace—is a better investment
of senior administrators' time.

Learning That You Don't Know What You Don't
Know

For both users and administrators, the scope of the tools and
facilities available under GNU/Linux systems is enormous. When
approached with “how do I...” questions, veteran administrators
often respond with “Well, that depends.” With a GNU/Linux-based
training solution, a wide arsenal of methods can be taught to solve
potential or actual problems in many different ways.

A holistic classroom approach, which includes lectures, labs
and a hands-on interactive learning environment, allows students to
be rapidly exposed to methods, tools and techniques they otherwise
may not discover for months. It is not uncommon to hear a student
exclaim, “I never really understood how that worked!” or “What I
just learned in that last session alone made it worth being here
this week!”

The instructor-led setting allows students to pose questions
and explore many aspects of conventional approaches to Linux-based
solutions. Students interact with one another and discover how
others have addressed similar configuration and maintenance issues
in the past. This “shared” learning environment enables students
to benefit from the experiences and discoveries of fellow learners
and instructors.

Linux training programs should provide each student with
access to a Linux system during hands-on labs. The labs speed the
process from learning the basics to putting the knowledge to work,
and support different learning styles among the students.

Managing Employee Retention and Growth

To avoid being overwhelmed by the rapid growth in today's
networking systems, Linux users and administrators need to receive
training that enables them to stay ahead of the curve. The
combination of accelerated technologies and inadequate training is
a setup for failure; staff members become frustrated and often
begin to look at new opportunities for professional growth.

Furthermore, training is often perceived by employees to be a
reward or a job perk. By providing a proactive training and
development program, employers demonstrate that they value their
employees and both parties feel there is something at stake in the
continued employee-employer relationship.

Regarding training, there is a paradox that some
organizations are afraid of: if they offer top-notch training,
employees may eventually take their enhanced skills elsewhere. In
fact, employees are far more likely to remain in an environment
where they can grow their skills and develop their careers. Since
employee recruitment has become so competitive, many employers seek
opportunities to train and promote from within. Employees have
ample prospects for advancement, while employers fill staffing
needs without paying relocation fees, signing bonuses and other
recruitment expenses.